State v. Cochran

102 Wash. App. 480
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedSeptember 7, 2000
DocketNos. 16802-6-III; 19045-5-III
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 102 Wash. App. 480 (State v. Cochran) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Cochran, 102 Wash. App. 480 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

Brown, A.C.J.

— After raising a diminished capacity defense, Buddy Cochran was convicted of attempted first degree murder. Mr. Cochran’s appeal presents the novel issue of whether the trial court erred when allowing the State to present rebuttal evidence on the issue of diminished capacity even though defense counsel was not present during the State’s entire mental status evaluation process. We decide his right to counsel during this critical stage of proceeding was not violated. We also reject claimed error in limiting evidence of alleged witness drug use and child abuse. In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we decide no abuse of discretion occurred when denying a third continuance. Similarly, we reject all pro se contentions and the consolidated personal restraint petition arguments related to ineffective assistance of counsel. Accordingly, we affirm.

FACTS

In 1996, after five years of marriage, Buddy and Cindy Cochran separated. Mrs. Cochran moved in with Jerry Frisk. On January 22, 1997, while on his way to work, Mr. Frisk was signaled to stop by Mr. Cochran. Mr. Cochran approached Mr. Frisk’s truck, told Mr. Frisk to stay away from Mrs. Cochran, and then stabbed Mr. Frisk.

Mr. Cochran was charged with one count of attempted first degree murder. Mr. Cochran raised a diminished capacity defense. The court appointed a forensic psychologist, Dennis Sheppard, Ph.D., as a defense expert. At the State’s request, the court ordered Mr. Cochran to submit to a mental status examination at Eastern State Hospital. Mr. Cochran was evaluated at Eastern from April 22 to May 2, 1997. Mr. Cochran’s counsel was present at the two clinical interviews conducted during the evaluation period, but not at other times.

[483]*483During pretrial, Mr. Cochran’s counsel moved unsuccessfully to dismiss or, alternatively, suppress on the grounds that he was not present at all times during the evaluation process when information bearing on the State expert’s opinions was gathered. The State moved successfully to exclude testimony regarding alleged drug abuse by Mrs. Cochran, and Mr. Frisk’s claimed child neglect by Mr. Cochran. Immediately before trial, Mr. Cochran was denied a third continuance.

At trial, Dr. Sheppard opined that Mr. Cochran’s ability to act with intent was impaired at the time of the stabbing because he was suffering from Vietnam post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep deprivation. In rebuttal, the State called Dr. Timm Fredrickson, a staff psychologist at Eastern State Hospital, who opined based upon his entire evaluation that Mr. Cochran had the capacity to formulate the necessary intent to kill Mr. Frisk.

The jury returned a guilty verdict and a special deadly weapon verdict. The court decided the standard range sentence was 187.5 to 249.75 months, plus a 24-month deadly weapon enhancement. The court sentenced Mr. Cochran to 273.75 months.

Mr. Cochran’s appeal is consolidated with his personal restraint petition (PRP).

ANALYSIS

A. Diminished Capacity Rebuttal

The issue is whether the trial court erred when allowing the State to present rebuttal evidence from Dr. Fredrickson on the issue of diminished capacity and concluding the evaluation process used by the State to gather its rebuttal evidence did not violate Mr. Cochran’s right to counsel.

When a defendant places his or her mental status in issue by claiming diminished capacity, the State may require the [484]*484defendant to submit to an expert evaluation. State v. Hutchinson, 135 Wn.2d 863, 878, 959 P.2d 1061 (1998) (Hutchinson II), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1157 (1999); see CrR 4.7(b)(2)(viii). The court is the gatekeeper to prevent admission of incriminating statements that may be gathered during the required evaluation. Hutchinson II, 135 Wn.2d at 878. A statement is not incriminating merely because it may support a conclusion that the defendant was capable of forming the necessary criminal mental state. Id. The evaluation is a “critical stage” in a criminal prosecution that gives rise to a limited right to counsel. State v. Nuss, 52 Wn. App. 735, 741, 763 P.2d 1249 (1988).

Mr. Cochran incorrectly contends his right to counsel was violated because counsel was not with him continuously for the duration of his evaluation at Eastern. Mr. Cochran argues Dr. Fredrickson’s opinion was impermissibly based in part on information gathered while his trial counsel was absent. However, the focus under Hutchinson II is on impermissibly used incriminating statements. None are alleged here. At trial, Dr. Fredrickson merely opined that Mr. Cochran had the capacity to formulate the intent to kill Mr. Frisk without any reference to or claimed use of incriminating statements made by Mr. Cochran to him. Dr. Fredrickson’s opinion was based on the foundation facts gleaned from his clinical interviews with Mr. Cochran while Mr. Cochran’s counsel was present, plus ward charts, progress notes, and police reports.

A defendant has a limited right to counsel during a mental status evaluation:

Where the examination is in response to a plea of insanity or a claim of diminished capacity, however, the right to counsel is limited. Counsel may be present, but his attendance is strictly as an observer rather than an active participant. This precaution allows for an unhampered psychiatric examination and provides counsel with a firsthand observation necessary for effective cross examination.

Nuss, 52 Wn. App. at 741. Counsel may not inhibit the examination. State v. Hutchinson, 111 Wn.2d 872, 884, 766 [485]*485P.2d 447 (1989) (Hutchinson I), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1157 (1999). The limited right reflects the notion that an attorney’s presence during the psychiatric interview contributes little and might seriously disrupt the examination. Estelle v. Smith, 451 U.S. 454, 470 n.14, 101 S. Ct. 1866, 68 L. Ed. 2d 359 (1981) (citing Smith v. Estelle, 602 F.2d 694, 708 (5th Cir. 1979), aff’d, 451 U.S. 454 (1981)). Again, as discussed above, the constitutional threat is against self-incrimination, a right not challenged here.

To require constant presence by counsel for the entire evaluation period or when supporting reference material is collected or examined by the State’s expert is clearly impractical. Moreover, experts commonly refer to facts collected outside their presence in forming opinions, and the facts need not be admissible. ER 703. For example, Dr. Fredrickson referred to police reports as part of the foundation facts for his opinion.

In sum, during Mr. Cochran’s stay, his counsel was present for the two clinical interviews. Mr. Cochran had access to a telephone to contact counsel. Mr. Cochran and his trial counsel were informed of the procedures utilized at Eastern. Mr. Cochran was given a form explaining his rights, including the right to refuse to answer any questions that could incriminate him and the right to have his attorney present. No record shows that Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
102 Wash. App. 480, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-cochran-washctapp-2000.